Federal Court Overturns Trump Order to Keep Michigan Coal Plant Open

A federal judge in Michigan dismissed the Trump administration’s attempt to keep the JH Campbell Generating plant online after its scheduled retirement, ruling that the Department of Energy had exceeded its authority. The 64‑year‑old coal‑fired facility, which the Energy Secretary Chris Wright described as essential for regional reliability, was forced to operate past its planned shutdown by invoking emergency powers. Environmental groups and the states of Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota had sued to reverse the order, arguing that the plant’s continued operation violated federal regulations and environmental standards.

The decision is part of a broader legal battle in which the administration has used emergency authority to keep several coal‑fired plants from closing. The court’s ruling underscores limits on executive power in the energy sector and signals a potential shift in how federal agencies can compel the operation of fossil‑fuel plants. The outcome may influence future disputes over the use of emergency powers to manage the nation’s aging power infrastructure.